A good day

[pch1.livejournal.com]

So I knew yesterday was going to be a good day when I was able to walk by both Starbucks and Diesel Cafe without being approached by any of the kids repping Save The GreenPeace Children from Masspirg.  Then I started to wonder, why is it that these guys can so relentlessly solicit donations everyday, yet if they were to put down their clipboards and strap on a guitar and play for donations they could be ticketed or asked to stop for performing without a permit.

What's up with the priorities around here.  I'd much rather be passing by a street performer than a political missionary.

Comments

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

but that's a little less clear-cut when they are asking for donations.

To my knowledge, political fundraising is covered under free speech. Certainly any cases I've aware of where people have tried to boot fundraisers have failed on those grounds.

[ron_newman]

But I'm not sure that 501c3 nonprofit fundraising is equivalent to political fundraising.

Tabling needs a permit, standing around doesn't.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Back when I was on the Bike Committee I checked in with the City's permitting guy, and he said that we could walk around and talk to people as much as we wanted, but that if we wanted to have a table of information (even without asking for money) we had to get a permit.

It presumably has something to do with the freedom of an individual to express themselves, while structures have zoning codes. (A table, stall, cart, etc. would be considered a structure.)

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it is, and I believe that there was a precedent-setting case involving the Salvation Army kettles, no less. But I am too lazy to look it up.